I would first check what his current kitchen knife is. Could be a nice blade but that he is lacking sharpening tools. Or worse interest in sharpening lacks in which case it is better to give him a cheap new knife every year or a self sharpening one. Long time ago tefal made a kitchen knife with a plastic sheet which sharpened the knife when unsheathed. I binned my tefal when I bought my globals and I have sharpening tools.
But self sharpening Knifes like that are still made and easy pull through knife sharpeners like my global mino sharp 3 water sharpener are affordable and easy to use.
But self sharpening Knifes like that are still made and easy pull through knife sharpeners like my global mino sharp 3 water sharpener are affordable and easy to use.